Secure surface mounted dispensing system

ABSTRACT

Flush mount dispensing bottle and apparatus includes a bracket having a mounting flange and a bottle having a flat back with an embossment for receiving the flange and enabling the flat back to flushly contact a surface supporting the bracket. A button attachable to the surface at a spaced apart distance from the bracket is provided and a second embossment receiving the button enables the flat back to flushly contact the surface and further prevents unauthorized removal of the bottle from the bracket.

The present invention is generally related to surface or wall mounteddispensers suitable for measuring and delivering into a users hand asmall uniform quantity of liquids or viscous liquids such as soaps,creams, paste and lubricants.

Many designs of liquid dispensers, particularly liquid soap dispensers,are well known in the art. Such dispensers typically are employed inpublic restrooms and the like and usually include a mounting bracket topermanently affix the dispenser to a wall. Such dispensers also includean access port of same type in order that the dispenser may be servicedby a maintenance worker for refilling.

Other types of dispensers utilize refill cartridges that are insertedinto a housing structure. All such dispensers rely on continuedmaintenance and operability of the housing, which is permeably affixedto a wall.

In order to service such dispensers, a supply system must be utilizedfor storing additional liquid soap or the like which is thereaftertransported and loaded into the dispenser. It should be apparent thatthis maintenance entails considerable time and logistics.

In addition, if the dispenser is damaged or vandalized, replacementthereof involves the removal of the entire housing from the wall and thereinstallation of a new dispenser housing.

The present invention is an improvement over such existing dispensers inthat it provides a self-contained dispenser, which may be disposable orrefillable. The refilling of the dispenser may be done in a centrallocation and accordingly does not depend upon the time consuming onsiterefilling of heretofore utilized wall-mounted dispensers. In addition,the present invention provides for a secure mounting system inhibitingremoval without the use of a release tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Flush mount dispensing bottle bracket apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention generally includes a bracket having a mounting flangealong with a bottle having a flat back with an embossment for receivingthe flange and further enabling the flat back to flushly contact asurface supporting the bracket.

This structure inhibits tampering of the dispensing bottle in view ofthe fact there are no members which are accessible to vandals.

More particularly, the present invention further includes a buttonattachable to the surface at a spaced apart distance from the bracketand a second embossment is provided in the flat back for receiving thebutton. This arrangement further enables the flat back to flushlycontact the surface and in addition prevents unwanted removal of thebottle from the bracket by unauthorized personnel.

For maintenance requiring refilling of the bottle, a maintenance workermay simply replace the empty or partially full dispenser bottle with afull bottle utilizing a release tool.

The empty or partially full bottles may thereafter be reloaded at acentral site. Accordingly, the present invention may include a systemwhich includes a plurality of bottles and a bracket for supporting oneof the bottles with the remaining bottles being utilized for on-siterefilling.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the bracket includes aprotruding hub having opposing female bayonet grooves therein and theembossment includes opposing studs for engaging the bracket grooves uponalignment and turning of the bottle with the hub inserted into theembossment.

More particularly, the mounting flange may include openings forreceiving threaded screws with the screws fixing the bracket to asuitable surface. Correspondingly, the embossment includes a circulargroove receiving the screw heads to facilitate the flush mounting of theflat back and enable turning of the bottle into the hub for causingsecuring and releasing of the bottle to and from the bracket.

As hereinabove noted, the present invention further includes a releasetool which is insertable between the bottle and the surface proximatethe button. Movement of the release tool separates the button from thesecond embossment and resiliency of the flat back enables suchseparation and removal of the bottle from the bracket. This structureinhibits unauthorized removal of the bottle from the bracket andsurface.

In another embodiment of the present invention, mounting flange includesa protruding triangular wedge and the embossment includes acorresponding female triangular wedge for engaging the protruding wedge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be betterunderstood by the following description when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottle and the bracket apparatus inaccordance with the present invention generally showing the bottle andthe bracket in a spaced apart relationship in order to show a brackethaving a flange along with a bottle having a flat back with anembossment therein for receiving a flange;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the bottle and bracket shown in FIG. 1 inpartial cross section showing engagement of the embossment with abracket and flush mounting of the flat back of the bottle against amounting surface;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a bottle andbracket in accordance with the present invention showing the bottle andbracket in a spaced apart relationship in order to show a bracket with aprotruding wedge and an embossment in a bottle back correspondingthereto with a female configuration for engaging a protruding wedgealong with a security button and a second embossment in the bottle backfor receiving same; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bottle and bracket shown in FIG. 3 andpartial cross section showing engagement of the embossment with thebracket and a second embossment engaging the button, also shown is arelease tool for facilitating a removal of the bottle from the bracketby authorized personnel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown flush mount dispensingbottle and bracket apparatus 10 generally including a bracket 12 havinga mounting flange 14 and a bottle 18 having a flat back 20 whichincludes an embossment 24 for receiving the flange 14 and enabling theflat back to flushly engage a surface 26 supporting the bracket 12, asmore clearly shown in FIG. 2.

A button 30 attachable to the surface 26 by any conventional manner isdisposed at a spaced apart distance from the bracket 12 and a secondembossment 32 is provided in the flat back 20 for receiving a button 30and further facilitating flush contact between the flat back 20 and thesurface 26, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The button functions to prevent,or inhibit, unauthorized removal of the bottle 18 from the bracket 12.

Preferably, the bottle 18 is molded from plastic and any bracket 12 maybe either plastic or metal. A suitable plastic provides resiliency forenabling the bottle 18 to be removed from the bracket 12 utilizing arelease tool 36, see FIG. 2, as will be hereinafter discussed in greaterdetail.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 12 includes aprotruding hub 40, which includes opposing female bayonet grooves andthe embossment 24 includes opposing studs 44 aligned for engaging thebracket grooves 42 upon alignment and turning of the bottle embossment24 with the hub 40 inserted thereinto.

The mounting flange 14 may include openings 48, 50, 52 for receivingthreaded screws 54, 56, 58 and the embossment 24 further includes acircular groove 54 for receiving screw heads 58, 60, 62 thereby enablinga flat back 20 to turn into the hub 40 to cause securing and releasingof the bottle 18 to and from the bracket 12.

A dispensing pump 66, which may be conventional in nature, is disposedat a top 68 of the bottle 18 upon an axis 70 which is perpendicular toan embossment axis 72 in order that actuation of a dispenser plunger 74does not apply any rotational torque to the bottle 18. This preventsdislodgement of the bottle 18 from the bracket 12 during operation ofthe dispenser 66.

The release tool 36, as shown in FIG. 2, may be a simple lever devicewhich includes a tip 78 insertable between the bottle back 20 and asindicated by the arrow 80 and when moved, or pivoted, as indicated bythe arrow 52, releases the flat back 20 from the surface 20, asindicated by the arrow 84, thus enabling rotation of the bottle 18 withrespect to the bracket 12, as indicated by the arrow 86, see FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown an alternativeembodiment 90 of the present invention, common reference charactersindicating identical or substantially similar components hereinbeforediscussed in connection with the embodiment 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this embodiment 90, a mounting flange includes a protrudingtriangular wedge 94, the flange 92 being attached to the surface 26 byeither an adhesive 96 or by recessed screws (not shown) or any otherconventional attachment device (not shown).

The flat back 20 of the bottle 18 includes an embossment 98, whichincludes a corresponding female triangular wedge sized and shaped forengaging the protruding triangular wedge 94 by downward movement of thebottle 18 onto the flange 92, as indicated by the arrow 102 in FIG. 3.Engagement of the bottle 18 with the flange 92 and wedge 94 against thesurface 26 is shown in FIG. 4. Also shown is engagement of the button 30with the second embossment 32 on the bottle flat back 20.

This engagement inhibits unauthorized removal of the bottle 18 from thesurface 26 by lifting of the bottle as indicated by the arrow 104 inFIG. 4.

As with the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the release tool 36functions, when inserted between the bottle 18 and the surface 26 asindicated by the arrow 106 in FIG. 4, to separate the second embossment32 from the button 30 when the tool 36 is actuated, or rotated, in adirection indicated by the arrow 108 to cause outward movement of abottle bottom 110, as indicated by the arrow 112, which then enablesremoval of the bottle 18 from the bracket flange 92, as indicated by thedirectional arrow 104 in FIG. 4.

Although there has been hereinabove described a specific secure surfacemounted dispensing system in accordance with the present invention forthe purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may beused to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is notlimited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise,consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, theinvention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced inthe absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalentarrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should beconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined inthe appended claims.

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A flush mount dispensing bottle and bracket apparatuscomprising: a bracket having a mounting flange, said mounting flangeincluding a protruding triangular wedge and said embossment includes acorresponding female triangular wedge engaging the protruding wedge; abottle having a flat back with an embossment receiving the flange andenabling the flat back to flushly contact a surface supporting saidbracket; a button attachable to said surface at a spaced apart distancefrom said bracket; and a second embossment receiving said button andenabling the flat back to flushly contact the surface and preventingunauthorized removal of said bottle from said bracket.
 6. The apparatusaccording to claim 5 further comprising a release tool inserted betweensaid surface proximate said bottom, movement of said release toolseparating said bottom from said second embossment, resiliency of saidflat back enabling removal of said bottle from said bracket.